Hyper productivity is a big issue in the workplace and in school culture. It is defined as being “extremely or excessively productive.” Of course, the work culture (or your grades depending on if you’re still a student) would suffer if there was no productivity, but when can productivity get to be too much? When schoolwork or your job begins to consume your life, it might be time to take a step back and start to re-prioritize aspects of your day-to-day lifestyle. Signs of overworking yourself can include constantly feeling stressed about upcoming tasks, losing sleep, spending more time alone, putting work before family and friends, and not allowing yourself to take a break and have fun.  

A lot of European countries stress having a life separate from their job as being beneficial to a better quality of life. Unlike Americans, once they leave work, they aim to not think about it until the next day, in order to have balance in their lives. Americans seem to live through their work, and I think it is important to understand that work is not everything and should not feel like your only purpose in life. The same thing goes for schoolwork. It is important to have some balance while in school. Designate hours to study, but also designate time to let loose with friends, or just time to relax on your own.  

Don’t misunderstand. Being productive is a very important skill to have because being unproductive and procrastinating is not a good way to approach work. However, being obsessive about work is where being productive is no longer beneficial or healthy. In order to be productive without it being excessive, you would need to plan out your week in an agenda and spread out all of your assignments and activities. I find it very helpful knowing what I’ll work on each day (for the most part, because of course things will always come up). You should do your assignments before the due date with a little extra time, but it’s crucial to space everything out. It isn’t necessary to do everything all at once or when it has just been assigned. If you spread out all of your work and extra-curriculars, when new deadlines do pop up you won’t feel super overwhelmed. This technique will also give you time to not constantly stress about school. Another important aspect of healthy productivity is getting a substantial amount of sleep. Getting enough sleep will help your performance in your work or job. Both procrastination and hyper-productivity lead to a lack of sleep, which is a key element to remember. If you seem to be suffering from sleep deprivation, you are most likely doing something wrong. If you have trouble falling asleep, “do something relaxing close to bedtime, like reading, knitting, coloring, journaling, or a jigsaw puzzle” (Saava). There are countless other ways to be productive that work for different people.  

Being hyper-productive can, and will, take a toll on your mental health. If all you think about is finishing tasks, your life will become less meaningful. You will stop finding joy in life if you are always on edge. It is important to know it is okay to have fun and put your work aside to hang out with friends, as long as you have a plan set to get it done later. Mental health is more important than any assignment, and by taking time for yourself, you will end up being more productive anyway. Being a happy and fulfilled person is the most successful version of yourself that you can be.